To expect my small children to behave in a restaurant?!

[Whyemseeaye]

We've been out this morning to meet a few of DH friends, who we don't see often, for brunch at a nice restaurant.

Our DC are 20 months and 3.5 years old.

On the whole they're pretty good but I find their behaviour when dining out a bit challenging. They seem to pick up on that and up the ante.

This morning the eldest smacked DH, was whining and generally being a pain. The youngest refused to get in the high chair and started crying every time I attempted to get them in it.

Friends were v understanding. They have children who are slightly older.

I don't know what to do. We go out to eat at least once a week and sometimes they're fine, others not so much. Husband is in to "gentle parenting" which isn't really my style. I expect them to behave and to do what they're told.

I found this morning really embarrassing.

AIBU to think they're old enough to do a little bit better than today's efforts

You have a one year old. On that basis this sentence is utterly batshit:

‘I do expect them to be respectful of other people and their surroundings. I don't think it's ever too young to expect that?!’

Your older one is getting to the point where they should be more reliable as long as you’ve got entertainment but colouring doesn’t necessarily cut-it for active 3 year olds. I’d say my eldest was 4 before she’d sit and enjoy colouring for any length of time. At 5 she is now very easy to take out. Your 1 year old will be unpredictable for a while yet. That is normal. I’d also say lunch is likely to be more challenging as I always found the behaviour of mine started to deteriorate from about 11.30 as they were getting tired and close to nap time. It’s only really now at 21/2 my little one can cope with lunch out and staying awake a bit longer.

😳

They're babies! Bloody hell.

Yabu unreasonable to expect a 20m old to remain seated in a restaurant for an hour on a regular basis (eg once a week) without experiencing quite a lot of resistance/difficult behaviour.

You have young children. Sometimes this limits you from doing what you want to do/what you did before you had young children.

We often host brunch at home where the adults can eat but kids can get down and play after they've eaten, it works well.